A-Rod suspended through 2014; 12 others accept 50-game bans

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Major League Baseball suspended the New York Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez through the end of the 2014 season, while 12 other players accepted 50-game suspensions Monday for their dealings with Biogenesis, a shuttered Miami clinic that was a source for illegal performance-enhancing drugs.

Rodriguez, who ranks fifth all time with 647 home runs, was given a lengthy suspension both for alleged violations of baseball’s drug agreement and for interfering with MLB’s investigation.

Texas Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz and Detroit Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta, both members of playoff-contending teams, were among those accepting 50-game penalties. All of the suspensions are without pay, and the players will begin serving them immediately.